Cox Castle’s 1L Diversity Scholars Program is Now Accepting Applications for Summer 2023

Cox Castle & Nicholson, a leading full-service law firm specializing in real estate in the United States, announced the Mario Camara 1L Diversity Scholars Program as part of its commitment to continue to promote diversity and inclusivity in the Firm and the legal profession, particularly the real estate bar. Named in honor of the Firm’s former managing partner Mario Camara, the 1L Diversity Scholars Program is open to first-year law students belonging to groups that have been historically underrepresented in the legal profession (such as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, veterans, differently abled students, LGBTQ+ students, and students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds). The application for the summer 2023 program is currently open. More information can be found at https://www.coxcastle.com/careers/1l-diversity-scholars-program.

1L Scholars will participate in Cox Castle’s 10-week summer associate program in the Firm’s Los Angeles office and will receive valuable practice experience by working closely with Firm attorneys. 1L Scholars will also have the opportunity to attend associate trainings, team meetings, and client and other Firm-sponsored events. The goal of the program is to assist first-year law students in building the foundation to becoming a successful lawyer.

“At Cox Castle, we are committed to attracting and retaining diverse legal talent, investing in diverse future leaders, and creating a diverse work environment where our differences are encouraged and valued. Our 1L Diversity Scholars Program is one example of Cox Castle’s continuing efforts to recruit and retain individuals from groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in the law to cultivate and preserve a diverse and inclusive workplace,” said Alicia Vaz, Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer at Cox Castle.

Vaz added, “The program is named in honor of Cox Castle’s former managing partner Mario Camara, who successfully led the Firm for more than 30 years. When Mario became managing partner in 1987, Cox Castle was recognized as the first Top 50 Los Angeles County law firm to have a managing partner of Latino heritage. As a first-generation college graduate himself, Mario has always been a staunch advocate for aspiring and diverse attorneys, including me during my entire career, which I have spent at the Firm. This Scholars Program honors him and all he has done for the Firm, as well as the community, particularly to advance diversity in the legal profession.”

For Cox Castle’s 2023 summer program, 1L Scholars will be compensated by the Firm at the standard summer associate salary and will be eligible to receive a scholarship of up to $15,000 paid as follows: After completing the 1L summer associate program, Scholars will be awarded a scholarship of $5,000. Cox Castle may offer 1L Scholars the opportunity to participate in the 2L summer associate program. Cox Castle will award an additional $10,000 upon completion of the 2L summer associate program to those who receive and accept an offer to return to the Firm as an entry-level associate after graduation.

“I am deeply gratified that Cox Castle has chosen to expand and energize its DEI efforts in this meaningful way,” said Camara. “Scholarships are essential in providing greater access to a legal education and opportunities in the legal profession, including in law firms where diversity and inclusion progress is still needed.”

Cox Castle awards two additional scholarships to law students each year through its establishment endowments at two Los Angeles law schools, The Phillip R. Nicholson Memorial Scholarship Fund for Real Estate Excellence at USC Gould School of Law and the Cox Castle & Nicholson LLP Endowed Scholarship in Law at UCLA. In addition, for over a decade, Cox Castle has sponsored an annual 1L Scholarship through its support of and longstanding involvement with California ChangeLawyers (formerly the California Bar Foundation), a community foundation that empowers the next generation of lawyers, judges, and activists with the mission of building a better justice system for all Californians. For more information, contact Vachelle Willis at recruiting@coxcastle.com.

About Cox, Castle & Nicholson

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP was founded in Los Angeles in 1968, with the goal of providing superior and comprehensive legal services to businesses, institutions, and individuals in all aspects of the real estate, finance, and construction industries. Cox Castle is now one of the largest full-service law firms specializing in real estate in the United States and has over 130 transactional and litigation attorneys in its Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Francisco offices.

The firm has substantial expertise in matters involving land and improved property acquisitions and dispositions; joint ventures; single and multi-family residential development; land use, entitlement and regulatory compliance (including coastal commission and condemnation); office, industrial, retail and mixed-use development, leasing and management; commercial lending and institutional investment; loan workouts and financial restructuring; construction; resort and hospitality; labor and employment; risk management and insurance; environmental compliance; renewable energy and natural resources; and tax and estate planning. For more information, please visit www.coxcastle.com.

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